LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 83
Chapter 83: The Most Beautiful in the World (80%)
“Are you kidding me, you foolish idiot?! If you were going to mess around, then why even bring me here?!”
Her sharp voice echoed through Gongdong Mountain.
I was utterly dumbfounded by her words.
What on earth did this reckless girl imagine to think she could blame me like this?
How long ago was it when she brought up some irrelevant matter?
“I brought you here to talk, just the two of us.”
If I were to head to Gonhwa Pavilion now, Jeoksawol would definitely come to meet me.
It wasn’t the right time to make contact with her yet.
Sending Sahyeong or Same wasn’t an option either.
Telling my master to go made even less sense.
So it was correct to send Seomun Cheong-ha, who was somewhat easier to deal with.
After all, wasn’t this my quarrel?
“Anyway, are you going or not?”
“Hmph. Martial arts gambling? Sounds like something for riffraff to deal with…”
“Are you seriously saying that after seeing how our faction looks?”
I interrupted Seomun Cheong-ha mid-sentence.
She pursed her lips at my response.
Looking at the desolate surroundings, she seemed at a loss for words as well.
She snatched the token from my hand and said, “Hmph. Fine. If it’s the order of the noble master, I’ll follow it reluctantly. After all, I am your devoted servant!”
Seomun Cheong-ha pouted openly.
She disappeared in front of me with a leap.
Really, she sure talks a lot for someone who’s going to do it anyway.
I clicked my tongue and shook my head.
*
“I can’t believe this. Why do I have to run such pointless errands…”
Seomun Cheong-ha grumbled to herself as she quickly descended Gongdong Mountain.
It was her who said she would be my devoted servant.
But she never expected to be treated like a maid for real.
How dare they use Geombong Seomun Cheong-ha as an actual servant?
This was unacceptable.
“If I hadn’t said that…”
But ultimately, that was something Seomun Cheong-ha had herself uttered. Out of pride, she had no choice but to fulfill Lee Cheol-soo’s request.
At any rate, she was the devoted servant now.
Muttering, Seomun Cheong-ha asked passersby for directions to Gonhwa Pavilion, heading to Hwajeong County’s entertainment district.
The entertainment district of Hwajeong County was quiet during the day, with its lights turned off.
Walking through the district mixed with pungent scents, Seomun Cheong-ha frowned.
“Hmph.”
Pouting, she arrived in front of Gonhwa Pavilion.
“Welcome… Huh? What brings you here, young lady…?”
“I was sent by Lee Cheol-soo. He told me to get the martial arts gambling payouts with this token.”
Thud.
Encountering Chief Ha, Seomun Cheong-ha placed the token on the table.
“…Are you saying this on behalf of the faction? You didn’t come in person?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
Seeing Chief Ha’s face turn pale, Seomun Cheong-ha questioned back.
While she was a girl who grew up without knowing much about the world, she wasn’t ignorant enough to not understand how gambling houses operate.
The token handed over by Lee Cheol-soo was essentially a ticket to collect payouts.
As long as she had the token, anyone was obligated to hand over the payouts.
Meanwhile, Chief Ha’s face turned white upon seeing Seomun Cheong-ha.
It had nothing to do with not recognizing her.
Ever since the news broke that Lee Cheol-soo was returning to the Gongdong Sect’s main base today, Neungwolhyang, the branch leader of the Hao Mun’s Hwajeong County branch, had been eagerly waiting for him since morning, making herself up to the nines.
It looked like someone patiently waiting for their beloved.
But instead of the beloved, here stood a girl sent by him.
‘Oh no!’
Last time, after Lee Cheol-soo left without dropping by Gonhwa Pavilion’s special room and just left the payouts, how much trouble did she have to endure?
Chief Ha felt dazed.
“What are you doing without giving me the payouts?”
Unaware of Chief Ha’s turmoil, Seomun Cheong-ha continued tapping the table with the token.
She had no desire to linger in such an unpleasant courtesan house.
She wanted to get out as soon as possible.
‘Hmph. Why on earth does Lee Cheol-soo frequent places like this? Is he really trying to meet Neungwolhyang as the rumors say?’
Meeting Neungwolhyang.
Thinking of that rumor made Seomun Cheong-ha uncomfortable.
She was involved because of it.
Rumors circled about her being in a love triangle with Neungwolhyang and Lee Cheol-soo.
Even now, those rumors continued to circulate through the martial world.
The former member of the Gongdong Color Association, Seomun Cheong-ha, deliberately lost in joy to meet this Lee Cheol-soo, and upon returning to the Gongdong Sect, she welcomed him back with open arms.
‘This is absurd! Me, having an affair with that colorful horse—’
That was preposterous.
It was Lee Cheol-soo who had torn her clothing in the middle of a street brawl. Sure, he was flustered afterward and wrapped his outer coat around her… but the texture and scent of his clothing had indeed been pretty nice…
Just as Seomun Cheong-ha shook her head to cast away those strange thoughts,
“…You are to go upstairs. To the special room on this floor. You will receive your payouts there.”
Chief Ha’s voice pierced her ears.
“Okay.”
Seomun Cheong-ha took the token and climbed the stairs to the second floor. Being before business hours, it was quiet, and she spotted the sign for the special room.
Slide.
As she opened the sliding door and stepped inside,
Seomun Cheong-ha’s body froze.
A sweet scent wafted under her nose.
In the center of the luxuriously decorated special room stood a beauty so breathtaking it could be mistaken for a brief blindness.
With jet-black hair like ebony, sparkling ruby-red eyes, luscious red lips, and fair skin, this young lady radiated a perfect hourglass figure beneath her delicate clothing.
Gansu’s Finest Beauty.
She was renowned for her looks and was quite confident about her beauty, having been chased by countless suitors in Yongbong Jiyeo.
However, the moment she encountered this lascivious and alluring woman, who seemed to embody all the beauty in the world, Seomun Cheong-ha felt like a commoner in comparison.
Even though she was regarded as a beauty herself, she was shaken and filled with inferiority when faced with this shockingly magnificent lady. Any man would surely pursue her without a second thought.
Seoharin, whom she considered more beautiful, and Geumhu, the most beautiful in the orthodox faction, still felt like human beings in comparison.
But the woman before her was different. Beauty that transcended human standards, as if she belonged to another realm.
‘Wha- what…’
Could this possibly be…
The number one courtesan of Sichuan, Neungwolhyang?
She had feelings for someone like this? Was this person in love with Lee Cheol-soo?
Stunned, Seomun Cheong-ha stood frozen, and Neungwolhyang—or rather, Jeoksawol—narrowed her eyes.
‘That girl…’
Geombong Seomun Cheong-ha.
An individual she had encountered countless times through documents and martial encounters. A promising post-stimulation indicator in the orthodox faction’s martial world, known as Gansu’s Finest Beauty.
Neungwolhyang had memorized everything about her.
Not only that.
Seoharin, Geumhu.
She had memorized all the information about the women who lingered around her master.
But aside from being 46 years younger, indeed, she lacked everything compared to Seomun Cheong-ha.
That realization brought little comfort to Neungwolhyang.
After all, no one could match her in beauty. Even in a fraction of her original beauty, she could captivate any man—and woman—nearly at their wits’ end.
Right.
This was how it should be.
Lee Cheol-soo was the odd one out.
Neungwolhyang ground her teeth in frustration and spoke to her in a calm voice.
“I am Neungwolhyang, the manager of Gonhwa Pavilion. Seomun young lady, please close the door and take a seat.”
“Y-yes, yes.”
Finally coming to her senses, Seomun Cheong-ha closed the sliding door and sat across from Neungwolhyang.
The scent brushing her nose disoriented Seomun Cheong-ha.
‘Gotta pull myself together!’
Sitting in the chair, she pinched her thigh.
Taking out the token, she declared, “I came to collect the payouts.”
“…Was that all you had to say?”
“Uh?”
Seomun Cheong-ha asked back, confused by Neungwolhyang’s words.
Looking at her intently, Neungwolhyang smiled confidently.
“What other messages did the master send? Or perhaps a letter?”
She emphasized the word “master.”
Sure.
The relationship between the master and her was not something a mere girl, lacking in beauty, could intrude upon.
For reasons unknown, the master must be too busy to return to her.
There was no doubt she had sent a message for her to convey to Seomun Cheong-ha.
Neungwolhyang happily awaited for that.
‘The master…’
Seomun Cheong-ha became lost in confusion at Neungwolhyang’s words.
Master.
That was a term a woman used to refer to her romantic partner, wasn’t it?
Was it true that the rumor of them being in an affair was real? No, Lee Cheol-soo hadn’t left any messages or letters for Neungwolhyang.
He had only told her to bring the money.
Then could it be…
Could it be true that Neungwolhyang had one-sided feelings for Lee Cheol-soo?
Gazing at Neungwolhyang, Seomun Cheong-ha spoke calmly, “No. There was nothing. He just told me to collect the money…”
The moment Neungwolhyang heard Seomun Cheong-ha’s words, her face stiffened.
Her hand trembled beneath the table.
No messages, no letters.
This was absurd!
He called her “master.” She replied with “mistress.” Were they not in love, practically?
But why…
Why, with the world’s most beautiful woman in view, would he…
Neungwolhyang’s hands shook.
“Really… nothing at all…?”
It was hard to believe.
To be rejected by someone.
…To be turned down by Lee Cheol-soo was something Neungwolhyang didn’t want to accept.
Seeing the sorrow in Neungwolhyang’s voice, Seomun Cheong-ha nodded.
Her expression was so pitiful it even moved Seomun Cheong-ha’s feelings.
“Y-yes…”
“…I see…”
Neungwolhyang lowered her head.
She bit her red lips. In anticipation of the master’s arrival, she had dressed beautifully since morning, applied lipstick, selected fragrant pouches, and lit scented candles.
But why…
Neungwolhyang’s hands trembled, her feelings entirely overwhelmed.
With trembling hands, she took out the bundle of prepared vouchers and placed it on the table.
“…The payouts… please pass them on to the master.”
“Got it.”
Seomun Cheong-ha collected the payouts.
Her gaze turned towards Neungwolhyang, who resembled a woman recently heartbreakingly rejected by her partner.
…Would she really cast away such a person?
Seomun Cheong-ha’s hands trembled. Memories of past days replayed automatically in her mind. The image of Lee Cheol-soo treating her like a servant instead of a woman.
Thinking back, the only time Lee Cheol-soo had treated her politely and expressed affection was for Geumhu Eun Seol-ran.
‘Could it be that Lee Cheol-soo is… crushin’ on Eun Seol-ran?!’
The conclusion hit Seomun Cheong-ha’s mind like a brick.
Lee Cheol-soo.
The public martial arts challenge he made to Geumhu was seen by everyone as an insult toward her. Seomun Cheong-ha, too, thought so.
There was no way to say that the relationship between the Gongdong Sect and the Hangshan Sect was anything but terrible.
But what if that pursuit was genuine?
What if Lee Cheol-soo really liked Geumhu?
Then everything made sense.
Just look at how ruthlessly he dismissed a 20-year-old Neungwolhyang.
Seomun Cheong-ha gazed at Neungwolhyang, her heart aching for her.
She knew that Neungwolhyang’s unreciprocated feelings were full of sorrow.
“…Stay strong. I will definitely relay your circumstances to the Master,” she said, taking the vouchers.
With a quick word of encouragement, Seomun Cheong-ha left the special room.
Left behind, Neungwolhyang bit her lips.
“You bastard… What did I ever do wrong to you…? Why did it have to come to this…”
Tears streamed down Neungwolhyang’s cheeks.
Her hands trembled.
It was the first time she felt such grief and heartbreak.
Tears flowed endlessly, hopelessly. The absence of his presence felt cruel.
Her emotions surged violently.
Yet…
Neungwolhyang could not give up on Lee Cheol-soo.
With tears in her eyes, she wept like a girl in love, longing for her first crush.